1-on-1 with CBA senior Ashton Walker

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 1, 2015 1:48 PM

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The News-Argus conducted a 10-question Q&A with Walker, who won 94 singles matches during her four-year varsity career as the No. 1 seed each season with the Golden Falcons. Here's what she had to say about the next step in her career:

Q: Congratulations on signing with Methodist University. What did you like about the school and its women's tennis program?

A: I really like the coach Francie Barragan and I really like the girls on the team. They were very welcoming. I also like the campus and met the president of the school. It felt like it was right for me and right for my personality, and I felt like I would do well there.

Q: Did you consider any other schools?

A: I looked at Meredith, Barton College and University of Mary Washington (Va.). I knew I wanted to play tennis, but I also wanted to have the personal experience with my professors, smaller classrooms rather than a larger school. I felt that would be just better for my education and myself.

Q: How do you feel that you can help the Monarchs, a program that prides itself on tradition much like C.B. Aycock?

A: I think I can help them out a lot, think I can could do well there. I'm hoping that Francie will help me grow as a player and as an individual, and I hope I can bring something special to the team. (Editor's note: Methodist has won seven of the last eight USA South Athletic Conference tournament titles and made seven appearances in the NCAA tournament since 2007. Overall, the Monarchs have advanced to the NCAA tournament on 11 occasions and secured 19 regular-season crowns.)

Q: What kind of influences have CBA head coach Summer Pennington and private coach Lee Bailey had on you, and what have you learned from each of them?

A: They've both been very positive influences, been encouraging and given me a lot of advice as to choosing what type of school would be good for me, and where I would fit in. They want me to do well academically and athletically, also. Coach Pennington went to a smaller school (Barton) and how she liked being on the team, and had people who supported her. Lee Bailey went to UNC Wilmington and has always taught me to work hard and be myself, and let everything else fall into place.

Q: The collegiate game is much different from the high school game. There is a fall and spring season. How much of a change is that going to be for you?

A: I play tennis all year around, so I don't think it will be that big of an adjustment. I know the spring season is probably stressful because of the conference tournament, exam time and the postseason. I think it will be really fun to play fall and spring.

Q: Playing on the USTA circuit and seeing quality competition across the southeast, how has that helped prepare you for the collegiate game?

A: Playing tournaments has helped me meet new people, and meet coaches from different colleges and stuff. It's allowed me to experience a higher level of tennis. It kind of opened my eyes to what tennis has to offer. There's a place for everyone at any level. Anyone can play, but you just have to find what is good for you. I felt like that Methodist was good for me. You don't have be No. 1 in the country to play on a college team. You just have to be the best that you can be.

Q: What is your best asset as a player?

A: I'm pretty tough mentally, not let things get to me ... not be quick to get angry and be calm in different situations when things are not going my way. I just try to have a steady head. Whenever I get really focused, there's like no stopping me.

Q: Where do you need to show improvement in your game to succeed at the collegiate level?

A: I'd really like to work on my serve. I'd like to have a bigger serve that would open up shots for me on returns. I would also like to work on some volleys before I go off to school, and I plan to work on that this summer. Francie has seen me play either two or three times. I know she saw me play at states this year and regionals my junior year. She told me to just keep working hard and work on my serve mostly. She likes my ground strokes and those can always been improved. The biggest improvement I want to see in myself and she wants to see is probably my serve.

Q: What do you enjoy about the game of tennis and why?

A: I just really like tennis because it's a different sport, an individual sport that's enabled me to meet new people. I've had so many different people come into my life. It doesn't define me, but I feel like if I didn't have tennis, I wouldn't be myself. It's become a big part of my life. There have been so many good people who have helped me with my game.

Q: What do you plan to study at Methodist?

A: Well, right now, they have a physician's assistant program so I will probably major in biology if I want to be a physical assistant. They have a very good program and a lot of networking, too, so that's good. It's (a) growing (school), too.